I got a horse, now what? update 1-22-11

[Terri O]

Speaking of worming syringes...my daughter and her friend always give the horses applesauce in them. We have a 4YO paint gelding that will practically do anything to get a syringe in his mouth! Since he was such an accident prone foal it was a good thing that he liked to be served applesauce this way...made medicating him a snap! Terri O in WI

 

[greathorse]

Ok when 29 started on this thread he got plenty of grief about him potentially harming this horse due to being a novice. Horses are good at getting themselves in "fixes" no doubt about it but on the other hand with reasonable feed and some water that horse is going to do just fine.

29 has done all the right things with trimming, removing obstacles etc. but I contend the real risk is with the novice horse owner and the lack of understanding about how quickly one can get hurt with a horse.

Yellow flags - feeding treats- I have nothing against feeding treats if they come from an experienced horse handler (though few use them) to a horse that has manners. The I will feed treats so they like me plan is a dangerous one and should never be employed. Most injuries happen with horses that like their owners. This treat feeding is going to encourage a horse to get in his space without an invitation I would use treats with extreme caution.

"Tied loosely to a gate. Yikes Lots of trouble here. A loosely tied horse has the opportunity to stepn on or over a rope and get into all kinds of binds. Flight instinct takes over and you got yourself a big issue. Gate Yikes again I dont know how good or strong this gate is but I would never tie a horse to a gate or somethng that is hinged or will swing or break. Lots of potential trouble here.

Snatched my hat off my head, he should not ever get into that space big potential for trouble here.

I suggest that 29 not "piddle" with the horse as much as when in contact have a goal in mind. It can be a very simple one such as he will face me when I am in his presence, he will move his hindquarters when I put pressure that side. He will not get in my space with his face, nose, foot etc.

29 you have done a great job here, but this is a horse and when he gets feeling better with the better feed and as he gets to know you he will be looking for leadership, if he doesnt find it he will provide it.

Big thing to remember is that a dog is a predator and horses are prey. The flight instinct is huge in prey animals and is often where trouble starts.

Good luck to you and take your horses ability to do damage seriously

I think I would be looking for some clinic DVD's and or books or something of the sort. I began to worry early on when you were clear that you had no intention of asking anything of the horse other than to "get along"

That will work but he needs to know the parameters.

 

[~*Sweet Cheeks*~]

I think OP was clear in his update that he learned a lesson in tying up snugger and not letting Cody snatch his hat off.

In the beginning, I believe OP's goal was to get Cody healthy. As he gets him healthy, OP's wants or desires may change over time. Him and his wife may want to work with a trainer to get Cody ready to trail ride but time will only tell.

I think healthy treats are fine and dandy from time to time when it's you offering them and not the horse demanding them out of your pocket.

With my first horse (bossy mare Kitty) she had a history of overgrown hooves and thrush. She didn't like her feet messed with. Over a weeks time, I got her to the point of lifting her leg with just a light tap on the side of her leg. I would quickly pick out her hooves, gently put her leg down and reward with lots of praise and an apple slice or baby carrot. If she jerked, leaned on me, or didn't stand stll, no praise and no treat. Months later, she got to the point of lifting up her foot just by asking.

 

[greathorse]

Nope tied the horse back to the gate just shorter not good.

I have no issue with treats in general but should in my opinion be in the hands of someone that knows horses. Horses nuzzling for treats is a bad bad deal.

 

[Kelly G]

My horses get treats - but never by hand...always tossed into their buckets. Never by hand - I will not tolerate a mouthy horse.

 

[bantamamba]

If you constantly give out treats at regular intervals then yeah, they'll become mouthy. Horses who have an extreme food motivation (like my mare) are also prone to biting when they always expect a treat. Because of her tendency, she only occasionally gets something after I am finished working with her, so she never comes to the gate expecting a goodie but rather expecting to concentrate and do stuff for me when she sees the halter in hand.

I've also known horses who never evolved into the mouthy type despite heaps of treats/

A treat here or there can't hurt, especially if it's healthy. But I agree, in the "wrong hands", per se, treats have the potential of creating a monster. Not giving them by hand like Kelly G does is a good alternative if it's a concern.

I think the OP is doing great. The horse messed with him a little, which happens to everybody. He told him off for it, reportedly there were no further problems. OP didn't back off at all, which was the perfect thing to do. Doesn't sound like he's piddling around to me, just trying to get the horse healthy and comfortable in his new environment. Trainers and the like can come a little later. Grooming and simply hanging around them is a nice way to get the bond started...granted I haven't read everything, but thus far it doesn't sound as if Cody has tried grinding him into a wall.

Gate thing may have not been the safest, but we're all here to learn. For what it's worth it sounds as if the OP is no dumb bunny and knows to keep his wits about him, as well as how to deal with a hat-thief

I know more than a few of us started out with horses as complete novices. The trick is educating yourself, which is exactly what the OP is doing.
In a world with countless unwanted equines languishing in forgotten backyards or lined up for slaughter, this one little gelding was fortunate enough to find a home with someone who cares about him enough to post a thread and ask for our guidance and advice, I think he is doing a bang-up job, novice or not.

 

[twentynine]

greathorse

Good idea. I have been doing a lot of reading and a lot of research.

Gate! Yep, I see what you mean, the gate was closed and latched, but a gate never the less. When I purchased the gate it seemed to be very substantial, however it is light enough for me to pick it up with one hand. I think noise of the gate rattling on the hinges would be a factor too. Don't know why I tied him to the gate, fence rails were right there.

Treats. I had been previously warned by some one not on this forum to be very careful in the way I managed treats. His advice and I have followed it up to now: Never give a treat/ snack or feed out of your hand. I do not. If I am in the stall/barn the treat is shown to the horse and then dropped in his feed bin. If I am out around the enclosure it goes on the top rail of the fence. But never directly from my hand to horses mouth. Actual number of treats is very small, averaging less than one per day over time.

Piddling. Well I guess I have to say guilty. Cody will, how do I explain, bend to my will. He will move over when I give him a slight push on the rump. He will back out of my way when I "tell" him to. Other things I am not so sure of, he does seem at times to be an in your space type of horse, but he does not nuzzle. He will get very close, inches away, stand there, just out of arms reach. If I turn towards him, put the palm of my hand up and tell him back, he will back away a few steps. But once my back is turned again he will close back in.

The snatching hat incident. How should I have handled it? What my immediate goal as of the moment it happened, was to insure that Cody understood that behavior was not proper. Right away I scolded, poked him in the ribs, not hard just to kinda say "hey now" and snugged him up tight. To the gate, but up tight. As soon as my voice went hard and cold, I got the impression that he knew he had done wrong. I did not want to haul off and whack him, seen that done a few times, doesn't ever seem to be productive. Horse goes wide eyed, struggling against rope, thrashing about, my feeling is that control has been lost.

What would have been a proper correction? I understand the goal is to NEVER have the horse intrude or cross the line. If I understand part of that is my responsibility, never place myself where the horse can be allowed to intrude. In the case of the hat snatch, I guess I should have had my unoccupied hand on the horses shoulder where I could have had a feeling for his movement. Not allowing him to ever start a "go" towards me. Right?

 

[greathorse]

You are doing very very well and have tons of common sense, when I say piddling I guess I mean not paying attention or not having a goal in mind. It sounds like you correction was the correct thing to do.

 

[Wynette]

I hate to jump in, as I haven't closely followed all the posts; however, I have horses, adore them, and spend hours upon hours just BEING with them. What's wrong with that? Nothing, in my book. Just sayin'.

 

[ducks4you]

Quote:
Guess it depends on the intelligence of your horse. MY horses are brilliant because they KNOW when you put a treat on the ground, that you REALLY are giving it to them!!!

Seriously--wean him off of treats or he'll start getting nippy.